Chimney-throat bridge-piece.



inn. 650,050. Patented May 22, I900.

W. H; PHENICE. CHIMNEY THBQAT BRIDGE PIECE.- (Appliclition filedAug;,,17, 1899.) (No Model.)

l nventoz flffiflphezuce V UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

\VILLIAM H. PI'IENIOE, OF CINCINNATI, OIIIO.

CHIMNEY- THROAT BRIDGE-PIECE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N 0. 650,050, dated May 22,1900.

Application filed August 17,1899. Serial No. 727,525. (No model-J to bea full, clear, and exact descri ption of the invention, such as willenable others skilled in the art to which it appertaius to make and Iuse the same.

This invention relates to bridge-pieces for chimney-throats andfireplaces, being particularly well adapted for open grate or fireplaceheaters, as it obviates the eddying currents and all the disadvantagesresulting from p the thick bridge usually formed over chimney-throats;enables the back wall of the fireplaceto be thrown well forward at itsupper end, so as to throw the maximum amount of heat into the room andresulting in a saving of fuel as compared with like results of heatersplaced in fireplaces of ordinary construc tion insures better draft andobviates smoking, since no obstruction is offered to the escape of thesmoke; prevents overheating of the portion of the chimney over the fire;provides a firm and substantial support for the brickwork; saves timeand labor in forming the arch; provides a foundation for the plaster anda finish 0r grounds therefor; can be readily supplied with a damper, andis capable of use in connection with any chimney.

Other objects and advantages are contemplated and will appear in thecourse of the subjoined description;

For a full description of the invention and the merits thereof and alsoto acquire a knowledge of the details of construction of the means forefiecting the result, reference is to be had to the followingdescription and the drawings hereto attached.

While the essential and characteristic features of the invention arenecessarily susceptible of modification, still the preferred embodimentof the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in whichFigure 1 is a perspective view of a bridgepiece constructed inaccordance with and embodying the essence of the invention. Fig. 2 is arear perspective view thereof. Fig. 3

is an end view. Fig. 4 is a cross-section of the bridge-piece, showingits relation to the fireplace and illustrating a damper combinedtherewith, said damper being shown in two positions by the full anddotted lines.

Corresponding and like parts are referred to in the followingdescription and-indicated in all the views of the drawings by thesame 7reference characters.

The bridge-piece is hollow and preferably constructed of metal and is ofsuitable length, height, and depth. Inasmuch as the bridgepiece spansthe space formed between the jambs and forms a foundation for the frontwall of the chinney it will by preferencebe of a height corresponding toany desired number of courses of brick, usually three.

The depth orwidth of the bridge-piece corresponds to the width of abrick, which is about four and one-half inches.

The device may be constructed of a single piece of metal shaped into therequiredform or may be composed of two parts, the latter constructionbeing preferred, as it admits of the parts being cast and obviatescoring.

The bridge-piece comprises a front wall 1, top wall 2, and a back wall3, the latter having its end portions offset, as shown at 4, forming,with the end portions of the front and top walls, box-terminals 5, whichare adapted to be built into the jambs of the chimney. The front wall 1is foraminous or provided with a series of openings or perforations 6,through which the plaster is forced when covering the bridge-piece, theportions of the plastering passing through the openings forming keys toretain the surface coatin position. The lower edge portion of the wall 1is beveled forwardly and downwardly in conformity to the inclination ofthe back wall 3, so as to obtain a close fit thereagainst. The top wall2 is formed with or secured to the front wall and is of awidthcorresponding to the depth or thickness of the bridge-piece. Notches 7are formed in the rear edges of the top wall near its ends and areadapted to receive projections 8 of the back wall 3, whereby the partsare held from displacement when secured together. The back wall 3inclines from the rear edge of the top wall 2 to the lower edge of thefront wall 1 and is provided at its lower edge with aforwardly-extending ledge 9 to constitute a finish and grounds for theplastering. The ledge 9 extends forward of the .plane of the front wall1 a distance Corresponding to the thickness of the plastering. Theterminal portions of the ledge 9 are cut away, as shown at 10, flushwith the surface of the front wall 1 to admit of aoneat finish beingsecured when a The offset terminal portions 4 at plastering. the ends ofthe back'wall comprise vertical walls 11, horizontal walls 12, andtransverse walls 13, the latter being of triangular form and joining thevertical and horizontal walls with the terminals of the inclined portionof I,

the back wall. The projections 8 are in line with the transverse walls13. proper is the inclined portion extending'from one terminal ofiset 4:to the other, and its lower edge terminates sharply, so as to obviatethe formation of a straight surface which would 'be liable to interferewith the free circulation of draft through the throat.

The numeral 14 of Fig. 4 indicates the rela- I tive position of the backwall of the fireplace,

the same inclining upwardly and forwardly. It will thus be seen thattheupper edge of the back wall 14 approaches to within a veryshort/distance of the lower edge of the bridgepiece, thereby throwingpractically all the.

heat into the room, a small percentage only escaping. If desired, adamper may be combined with the bridge-piece, and, as shown,

this damperl5 is adapted to fold close against the inclined back wall 3and is adjustable to vary the opening or space between the back wall 14and the lower edge of the bridge-piece.

The back wall bled are connected by abolt; or like fasteni-n'g 17, andthe latterha's a shoulder 'or nut 18 disposed adjacent .to the. innerside of the front wall, soas to clamp the stem 16 between it andsaid'front wall.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed-as new is'- v 1. Abridge-piece for the purposes described, comprising a front wall, a topwall and a back wall, the latter inclining from the rear edge of the topwall to the lower edge of the front wall and terminating in aforwardly-extending ledge to provide a finish or grounds for theplastering, substantially as set forth.

2. A bridge-piece for the purposes described, comprising a perforatedfront wall, atop Wall and an inclined back'wall, andfa ledge pro,-jecting forwardly from the lower edge portion, of the front wall andhaving its terminals cut away-substantially as described.

V 3. The herein-described bridge pi'ec'e comprising a perforated front.wall, atop Wall having notches in its rear edge, aback wall incliningfrom the rear edge of the top wall to the lower edge of the front walland formed witha forwardly-extending ledge having its terminals cutaway, said backwall provided with offset terminal portions forming withthe end portions of the front and top walls boxi like structuresand saidback wall hay-in g projections to enter the notches of the top wall, andmeans for connecting the front and back walls, substantially'asdescribed.

In testimony whereof Iaffix my signature in presence of two witnesses. 7WILLIAM H.-PHENIGE. Vitnesses:

BURTON B. TUTTLE, EDW. S. CAMPBELL.

